Knitting machine



April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1' IHIIIHII llIllmiiii;

L 4 FIG. I.

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. SHELBY BY du ,Zmfi q ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. SHELBY ATTORN W. E. SHELBY KNITTING MACHINE April s, 1958 '7Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1, 1954 FIG.

I l I I I llHllllllllll v Jml HILII FIG. 5.

INVENTOR.

B WILLIAM E. SHELBY ma ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAME. SHELBY ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5' F Y I G. 7.

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E SHELBY.

ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. 'E. SHELBY 2,829,510

KNITTING-MACHINE Filed Sept. 1, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 7Eb\\ \\\h l F IG.8.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. SHELBY ATTORNEYS April 8, 1958 w. E. SHELBYKNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 1. 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 @NMMIM wmmm wlmlk nv mum mwwv m [IS II III FIG.

FIG. 9.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. SHELBY i ATTORNEYS United States PatentfO KNITTINGMACHINE William E. Shelby, Chattanooga, Tenn., assiguor to Scott &Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication September 1, 1954, Serial No. 453,578

7 Claims. (Cl. 66-155) The present invention relates to a knittingmachine particularly designed for the changing of size of stockings andfor the provision of markings to indicate the size and length.

In making stockings such as fine gauge ladies hose, it is commonpractice to use marks, generally consisting of tucks in the welt, shadowwelt, or other part of the stocking, to indicate, at times in code, thesize and length or other information which may be required duringinspecting and finishing operations.

In changing the size of stockings, it has in the past been necessary toadd or remove one or more links of the main control chain, an operationwhich consumes time and also presents an opportunity for error.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made in aknitting machine for the quick control of the [2,8295 iii Patented Apr.8, 1958 ice of certain of the parts involved in the present invention;Figure 12 is an inside development of certain of the cams involved inoperations in accordance with the invention;

Figure 13 is a developed sectional diagram showing control discs andpins located thereon for effecting both as is necessary for anunderstanding of the invention. The

needle cylinder indicated at 2 carries needles provided With butts 4 ofdifferent lengths for conventional differentiation between needles,certain of these needles being provided with extra short butts 4 formarking purposes as will hereafter appear. As illustrated, only twoneedles having such extra short butts are provided.

Various of the movements involved in connection with the presentinvention are derived from the conventional quadrant 6 which, as usual,makes a complete oscillation in every four revolutions of the needlecylinder. The usual clutch drum shaft 8 carries a ratchet 12 arranged tobe advanced by the pawl 10 which is connected to the I quadrant 6, andthis shaft 8 through gearing 14 serves to effective length of the chain,this control of effective length r i being secured merely by therotation of a dial. Concurrently, the machine automatically providescorrespond ing markings in the stocking indicative of size and length.Specifically, as the machine will be described, it is capable drive themain cam drum 16. The speed change cam drum 18 is mounted on the shaft8. A ratchet 20 driven from the quadrant 6 by pawl 22 serves to advancethe control chain 24 which, as is conventional, is advanced a distanceequal to one-third of a link for every four revolutions of the needlecylinder, each link, therefore", repreof automatically producing groupsof tucks in the shadow welt to indicate six foot sizes and also tocontrol the eifective length of the control chain to produce six footsizes together with three different lengths of the leg.

The principal objects of the present invention relate to the attainmentof the results generally indicated above. These objects together withothers relating to details of construction and operation will becomeapparent from the following description, read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing such parts of a conventionalknitting machine as "are involved in the attainment of the objects ofthe invention together with various parts added to the machine forpurposes of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing certain of the partsillustrated in Figure I viewed from the position indicated by the line22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating certain details of theinvention, particularly elements controlling the position of a camselectively operable upon needle.

butts;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane, indicated at 4-4 inFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a rear elevation of portions of the machine;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same looking at the right-hand sideof Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on the cated at 7--7 in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on cated at 8-8 in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated at 9-9 inFigure 5; r v

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken on the broken surface indicatedat 10-10 in Figure 5; t

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation showing. details plane inditheplane indi senting twelve courses of fabric. The various devices so fardescribed are conventional and are associated with other usual controldevices which play no special part in the present invention and neednot, therefore, be described.

In machines of the type here involvd, it is common practice to make avertical row of spaced tucks on either side of a mock seam at the backof the stocking during knitting of the leg, which marks are known asfashion marks. Such tucks are. the result of control by lugs on one sideof the control chain, causing a needle latch clearing cam to withdrawfar enough to miss certain needles having the extra short operatingbutts 4.

In accordance with the machine disclosed herein, a maximum of six sizemarks is required, and the control chain in the section determining thelength of the shadow welt carries six tucking lugs spaced every secondrack of the chain or, in other words, corresponding to each eighthcourse of the fabric. These lugs are illustrated at 26 (Figure 4) andact upon a pin 28 carried by the arm 30 of a lever pivoted at 32 andprovided with a second arm 34 which is provided with a corner 35 whichis engageable with a shoulder on a latch 38 pivoted at 40 to an uprightrod 42, the lower end of which is slotted for guidance on a pin 36. Aspring 44 normally urges the latch 38 to a position above the corner 35so as to be engageable thereby and also urges the bar 42 downwardly. Theupper end of the bar 42 has adjustably mounted thereon an arm 46 whichis connected to a vertically slidable rod 48 provided with a bevelledcam surface of posite lever, another arm 58 of which is provided with ahook end 60 engageable with a pin 62 carried by a lever 64, pivoted at66, which carries a clearing cam 68. A spring 70 reacts between thelever 64 and the arm 56 so as not only to urge the cam 68 to its fullinward. position but also to urge thebell crank 50 against the rod 43.Except when tucks are to be made (and certain other times of no interestin connection with the present invention) the cam 63 is held inwithdrawn position by means of a rod 74, controlled from the main camdrum, which acts upon the arm 72 of the composite lever to cause arm 58to pull pin 62 outwardly. When tucks are to be made, a movement of themain drum releases the rod 74 so that cam 63 may move fully inward. Atthis same time, the reverse stitch cam 69 is withdrawn to interrupt itsnormal clearing action. The cam 68, accordingly, controls clearing andby providing the needles which are to tuck with the extra short butts 4'a slight withdrawal of cam 68 will cause it to miss those needles andprevent clearing, the needles with the butts 4 following the dotted pathillustrated in Figure 12 while the remaining needles follow the fullline path, being cleared by cam 68.

Since the control of tucking is effected by the lugs 26 on chain 24, andthis chain is advanced only once in every four revolutions of the needlecylinder, if special provisions were not made, the tucks produced wouldeach comprise four courses of the fabric which would result in Weakstitches and distorted fabric. Pro-vision is, therefore, made tointerrupt tucking after only two courses by locating an arm 76 on thelatch 38 which is engageable by a rod 73 pivoted to the quadrant 6. Thepattern chain 24 is advanced on each reverse stroke of the quadrant,whereas the rod 78 is moved forwardly to trip the latch on the forwardstroke of the quadrant. Despite the action of a lug 26 on pin 28, thelatch 3% is released from corner 35 after only two courses. The spring44 is, accordingly, free to lower the bar 42, effecting release of theclearing cam 68 to its innermost position wherein it will clear all ofthe needles including those having the extra short butts 4'.

Pivoted at 82 for rotary adjustment at the side of the machine there isa disc 80 provided with stop pins 84 of graduated lengths, the discbeing fixed against axial movement. A shaft 86 is slidable in themachine frame, being urged toward the left as viewed in Figure 10 by aspring 88 against the action of which it may be pulled toward the rightby a Bowden wire 92, controlled from the main cam drum 16 by lever 93which is acted upon by a cam 95, and acting through the intermediary ofa lever 96 and the collar 94 secured to the shaft. The pins 84 may bebrought by rotation of the disc 86 selectively into positions forengagement by the left-hand end of shaft 86 under the action of spring88. The left-hand position of the shaft, therefore, is determinable bythe angular position of the dial 80. Journalled on the shaft 8-6, butconstrained to move axially therewith, is a ratchet )6 which is heldagainst clockwise rotation, as viewed in Figure 9, by a detent 106 butis arranged to be advanced in counterclockwise direction by a pawl 1M.pivoted to the upper end of a lever 1414 which is pivoted to the frameat its lower end at 105. A compression spring 1 16 is located betweendetent 100 and the lever 104 to maintain the detent in its operatingposition and to urge the lever 104 into contact with an adjustable stop1638. The lever 104 is oscillated by oscillations ofa shaft lift whichis provided with an arm 114 in which is threaded a screw 112 arranged toengage the lever 104. The shaft 110 is provided with an arm 116 which ispivoted at 117 to a link 118 which, in turn, is pivoted at 12%) to thequadrant 6. Oscillating movements are thereby imparted to the shaft 110.

The ratchet has a tooth missing at 98 and diametrically opposite 98 atooth is guarded by a plate 97. These serve to provide for timing up andrestarting of the ratchet from a definite angular position.

A follower 122 carried by a lever 124 pivoted to the frame at 126 isacted upon by pins carried by the ratchet 96 as Will be hereafter morefully described. The forward end of the lever 124 has pivoted to it at128 a link 130 which is also pivoted to the advancing pawl 22 for thechain ratchet 20. When the follower 122 is lifted by a pin on ratchet96, the pawl 22 is lifted out of engagement with ratchet 20 so thatadvance of the chain is interrupted.

Also rotatable on the shaft 86 but held against axial movement relativethereto is a second ratchet 132 which is arranged to be advancedclockwise, as viewed in Figure 8, by a pawl 134 which is pivoted to anarm 136 carried by the shaft 11% previously referred to. As will here--after appear, the ratchet 132 is advanced to start continuous rackingmovements by means of a pawl 138 pivoted to a rod 140 which is securedin an extension 142 of a rod 144 guided partially in the frame byengagement of a slot 146 in the rod 144 over a fixed pin 143. The rod144 is also guided over a lip of a lever pivoted to the frame andarranged to be raised by a wire 147 which is connected to a lever 149arranged to be acted upon by a cam 151 on the main cam drum 16. Theforward end of the rod 144 is arranged to engage the arm 76 carried bythe latch 38 so as to disengage the latch from the corner 35 'and holdit out of the path of that corner. The ratchet 132 has a tooth missingat 133 to provide for its retiming and starting at a definite angularposition.

A follower lever 15% is arranged to be engageable by pins carried by theratchet 132 as will be hereafter more fully described. This lever .Stlis pivoted at 152 and may be held out of the path of the pins carried byratchet 132 by means of a Bowden wire 1554 controlled from the main camdrum. The lever is provided with an arm 156 to which there is secured atransverse pin 158 which cooperates With a shoulder 160 on the extension142 of rod 14-4. A spring 159 serves to urge the rod 144 downwardly and,through pin 158, the lever 1S0 toward a position in the path of, or incontact with, the pins carried by the ratchet 132. An abutment 162 ispivoted at 16 tto the extension 142 of bar 144 and is urged to an upperstopped position by a spring 166. When in this position and whenextension 142 is raised it is arranged to be engaged by the pin 117providing the pivot between lever 116 and link 118.

Cams 168 and 179 are arranged to act upon the follower end 172 of thelever 174 pivoted at 176 to the frame. These cams are carried by thespeed change drum 18. A screw 178 adjustably threaded in an end of lever180 bears against the rear end of the lever 174, tne lever 180 beingpivoted to the frame at 182 and normally held in lowered position by aspring 184. The lever 180 is provided with a pawl 186 arranged to impartadvancing movements to the ratchet 96.

Referring now to Figure 13, the ratchet 96 is illustrated in developedform as provided with holes 188 in which there may be selectivelypositioned pins of two groups 190 and 192. The latter group, asillustrated, comprises a long pin 194 and successive pairs ofsuccessively shorter pins 196, 198, 200 and 202. The former groupcomprises pins .204 and 206 of two different lengths, there being sixpins 204 and four pins 206. The pins of both groups are arranged to beselectively engageable with, or miss entirely, the follower 122.

The ratchet 132 is similarly provided with holes 208 in which arearranged pins 210, 212, 214, 216 and 218, there being a single pin 210and pairs of pins 212 to 218, inclusive. These pins are arranged forselective engagement with the follower 150.

The two ratchets 96 and 132 are arranged to move together to selectiveaxial positions determined by engagement of the shaft 86 with the pins84 carried by the disc 80. These pins 84 determine six differentpositions of the .ratchets which are designated by the Roman numerals inFigure 13. It will be convenient to consider Figure 13 as if theratchets were fixed and the followers 122 and 150 occupied the positionsdesignated by the Roman. numerals. If the follower 122 is in position I,it

will not be engaged by any of the pins. In position II it is not engagedby any of the pins of group 190 but is engaged by the longest pin 194 ofthe group 192. In position III follower 122 is engageable by the fourpins 206 and by the two pins 196 and the pin 194. In position IV it isengageable by the four pins 206 and by all of the pins 198, 196 and 194.

In position V it is engageable by all of the pins 206 and 204 and by thepins 200, 198, 196 and 194. In position VI it is engageable by all ofthe pins of both groups.

When the follower 122 occupies the various positions just indicated, thefollower 150 is located in correspondingly designated positions. Inposition I it engages all of the pins carried byratchet 132. In positionII it engages the pins 210, 212, 214 and 216, missing the pins 218. Inposition III it engages the pins 210, 212 and 214. In position IV itengages the pins 210 and 212. In position V it engages only the singlelongest pin 210. In position VI it misses all ofthe pins carried byratchet 132.

While, as will be obvious, various arrangements of the pins may be used,there are indicated various lengths and sizes commonly corresponding andwhich are determined by the positions of the follower 122, thecorresponding positions of follower 150 producing designating marks. Forexample, the positions I to V1, respectively, correspond to foot sizes 8/2, 9, 9 /2, 10, 10% and 11. Corresponding leg lengths are produced inthree variations. Positions I and II provide short lengths of the legwhich correspond to foot sizes 8 /2 and 9. Positions III and IVcorrespond to medium leg lengths and to the foot sizes 9 /2 and 10.Positions V and VI correspond to long leg length and to foot sizes 10 /2and 11.

The ratchet 96 has ninety-six teeth and there are provided thirty-twopin holes 188. Since the ratchet is advanced once for each four courses,each pin is equivalent to twelve courses of the stocking. The adjacentpins are sufficiently close together to present a continuous surface tothe follower 122. Furthermore, the follower has a width engaging thepins corresponding to the width of a pin. Accordingly, the effectiveaction of a given number of pins on the follower 122 is that of one morethan the number of pins. This accounts, for example, for the provisionof a single pin 194 which, in effect, corresponds to two pins ortwenty-four courses of the fabric. When the follower engages the pins206, the effect is that of engagement of five pins. Similarly, when thefollower engages both pins 206 and 204, as in positions V and VI, theeffect is that of engagement of eleven pins.

The ratchet 132 also has one move for each four courses of the fabric.Here also, the effect of the nine pins illustrated is that of ten pins.The chain, as previously described, has six lugs 26 with the lugs spacedthe equivalent of two racks of the chain or eight courses. As will laterappear, the pins acting on the follower 150 cancel the formation oftucks. When all of the pins are engaged by follower 150 in position I,the effect is to cancel five of the six tucks which would otherwise beproduced by the action of the lugs 26. By the selective positioning ofthe ratchet 132 with respect to the follower 150 there may be cancellednone of the tucks or any number thereof from one to five, resulting inthe production of marking tucks ranging from one to six in number.

The operation of the machine may now be described, it being understoodthat, except for the operations involved in accordance with the presentinvention, the machine operates in conventional fashion, and may beassumed to form, as usual, a turned welt followed by transfer, a shadowwelt, a leg, heel, foot, toe and loopers waste courses. When the machinepasses to the formation of the loopers waste courses, the follower lever93 is acted upon by the main drum cam 95 and serves to move the shaft 86and the ratchets 9d and 132 mounted thereon to the right, as viewed inFigure 10, so that the left-hand end of shaft 86 clears the pins 84carried by the disc 80. Under these conditions, and until completion ofthe welt, the operator, without stopping the machine, may adjust thedisc 80 to bring into alignment with the end of shaft 86 the particularpin which will determine the eventual shaft position to secure thedesired foot and leg lengths. When the main drum cam begins to move thefollower lever 93, Bowden wire 154 withdraws the follower 150 from thepath of the pins on ratchet 132 so that in case the ratchet isaccidentally out of time they cannot strike the follower as shaft 86through continued action of follower lever 93 moves to the right.

As seen in Figure 11, when follower 150 is withdrawn, pin 158 elevatesrod 144 through its extension 142 and positions abutment 162 in the pathof pin 117 which as it moves to the left contacts the abutment, thusmoving pivot rod and pawl 130 to start the racking of ratchet 132. Whenshoulder 160 as it moves to the left passes pin 158 extension 142 androd 144 are lowered by spring 159 and are held by pin 158 until Bowdenwire 154 is later released. The ratchet continues to advance duringknitting of the welt until the timing tooth is reached where it remainsuntil it is again started to control the number of size marks in theshadow welt.

Operation with which the present invention is concerned begins with thebeginning of knitting of the shadow welt. At this time, the cam 95releases the follower lever 93, releasing both Bowden wires 92 and 154.Release of Bowden wire 92 permits spring 33 to move shaft 86, and theratchets thereon, toward the left in Figure 10 into engagement with theselected pin 84, thus presenting the ratchets with respect to thefollowers 122 and 150 in one of the selected positions designated by theRoman numerals in Figure 13.

Release of the Bowden wire 15 4 permits the follower 150 to moveclockwise, as viewed in Figure 11, across the path of the pins carriedby ratchet 132, but no pins are then in position to be engaged by thefollower 15'!) and the result of its release is that of lowering the pin158 below the shoulder 160 of the rod extension 142 so that the spring159 moves the rod 144 to the right, as viewed in Figure 11, the pinlStithen being beiow the portion of the extension 142 to the left ofshoulder 160. This condition continues until cam 151 acts upon the lever149 and through Bowden wire 147 raises guide to lift the bar 144. Whenthis occurs, the abutment 162 is moved into the path of pin 117 whichacts upon it to move the bar 144 and extension 142 toward the left, asviewed in Figure 11, thereby imparting a movement to the pawl 138 togive a single advance step to the ratchet 132. This advance brings atooth of ratchet 132 into the path of the oscillating pawl 134 whichthen effects step by step movements of the ratchet. Cam 151 then releases follower 149 so that the extension 142 drops to remove theabutment 162 out of th path of pin 117, the extension 142 then, again,resting upon the: pin 158.

If no cancellation of the formation of the tucks is to occur, tuckformation by the needles 4' is then effected through the lugs 26 onchain 24. Prior to their action, the rod 74 is released by the main camdrum so that clearing cam 63 is free to move fully inwardly under theaction of spring 70 and reverse stitch cam 69 is withdrawn with theresult that earn 68 takes over the task of clearing all of the needles.When the lugs 26 act upon the follower pin 28, the bar 42 is raised andthrough the connections previously described effects a slight outwardmovement of cam 68 to cause it to miss the shortest butts of needles 4'while continuing to clear the butts of needles 4. The result is that offormation of tucks by the needles 4'. To avoid long tucks, as previouslydescribed, the bar 78 engages the arm '76 of latch 38 to insure that thetucks occur in only two courses.

If instead of having a series of six tucks formed by each of the needles4, cancellation of a predetermined number is to occur, the action of thepins carried by the ratchet 132 on the follower 150 will rock thisfollower, causing the pin 158 to raise the extension 142 of bar 144 .tobring abutment 162 into the path of pin 117. The

result of this is that the bar 144 will be moved to the left, as viewedin Figure 11, and the shoulder 160 will engage to the left of pin 158preventing right-hand movement of the bar. in its lefthand position thebar, as viewed in Figure 4- will engage the arm 76 to hold the latch 38out of position for engagement by corner 35 with the consequence thathook on is held away from pin 62 and cam 68 occupies its full inwardposition to clear all of the needles. Thus, a predetermined number ofthe full possible number of tucks is cancelled to give an indication ofthe foot size le. gth of the stocking.

When the follower Edi) is released by the pins, the pin 15$ drops awayfrom shoulder loll and bar 144 may again move toward the right, asviewed in Figure 11. However, the lugs 26 will then have passed theirposition of operation and no tucking will occur. (It will be noted thatthe cancelled tucks are those at the end of the series which, in theabsence of cancellation, would be produced by lugs 26.) The ratchet 132then continues to step ahead until the missing tooth position 133 isbrought opposite the pawl lC -l, whereupon the ratchet stops. While thisaction brings i116 ratchet 1S2 to a definite position of rest, i. e. itsretimed position, there is, prior to the next shadow welt formation,another complete cycle of rotation of the ratchet started by thewithdrawal of follower ldil to prevent possible jamming as describedabove. Accordingly, the actual retiming cycle is that last mentioned.The fact that there are two cycles ending in the rest position ofratchet 1132 is merely an incident of the particular mechanism used.

During the formation of the leg, fashion marks if desired are producedin conventional fashion by additional lugs corresponding to 26 on thechain 24, the bar 78 again insuring that only two-course tucks areproduced.

The leg and foot portions of the chain 24 are such that the shortest leglength and smallest foot size of the stocking would be produced if itwere not for the present mechanism. At the beginning of formation of theleg or at some time during its formation, the cam 170 acts upon thefollower lever 1'74, producing a rise of pawl 186 and a single step ofratchet 95. The result is to move the missing teeth position 5i, awayfrom the pawl 102 which may thereupon begin to rack this ratchet.

As the racking of ratchet 96 proceeds, the chain 24 is advanced innormal fashion by the pawl 22 until follower 122 engages the pins 20-6or the pins 296 and 204. When this occurs, the lever 124 is 'aised andthrough link 130 raises the pawl 2.2 out of engagement with the chainratchet Zll with the result that the chain is stopped for a period, asdescribed above, corresponding to the number of pins engaged. Theeiiect, accordingly, is that of a longer chain, and medium or longlength stockings are produced according to the selection of the pin as.If the follower 122 does not engage any of the pins 2&6 or 294-, theshort length stocking is produced corresponding to the number of linksin the chain, the racking of which is uninterrupted.

The racking of the ratchet )6 continues until the guarded tooth 97 ispresented to the pawl llllZ whereupon rotation ceases.

Knitting of the remaining portion of the leg and the heel then takesplace in conventional fashion.

At the beginning of t e formation of the foot, the cam 16? acts upon thefollower lever 17st to initiate again the stepping of ratchet 96 by theimparting of an advancing movement through the pawl ran to bring anormal tooth into position to be engaged by pawl lull. By the action ofthe pins of the group on follower 122 the advance of the chain will thenagain be interrupted for such number of courses as correspond to theselection of a pin 84. Accordingly, toot lengths longer than theshortest are produced. if none of the pins engages the follower 122, theshortest size foot will be produced. After the pins which are activepass the follower 122, normal operation occurs and ratcheting of ratchetcontinues until the missing tooth position as is again presented to thepawl 102.

i The ratchets are thus restored to their initial positions withcompletion of timing of ratchet .lfi though, as described above, ratchet132 will go through a second cycle which will result in its timingpreparatory to efiective action. Finally, during the formation of theloopcrs waste courses, the cam again acts upon follower 93 to pull theBowden wires 92 and 154 to restore the parts to their initial positions,the shaft 8n: being moved to the right, as viewed in Figure 10, to clearthe pins 84 for reselection by turning of the disc 88.

It will be evident that various changes in details of construction maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed. is:

1. In a circular st cking knitting machine having a main controllingdevice advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of eachstocking and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions ofeach stocking; means for manually selecting one of several differentnumbers of courses to be formed in at least one portion of the stocking,means controlled by the last mentioned means for interrupting theadvance of the controlling device for the number of courses so selected,and means interconnected with said manual selecting means for effectingmarkings in a stocking corresponding to the selected number of courses.

2. In a circular stocking knitting machine having a main controllingdevice advancing through a comple cycle during the formation of eachstocking and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions ofeach stocking; means for manually selecting one of several differentnumbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality of portions ofthe stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned means forinterrupting the advance of the controlling device for the numbers ofcourses so selected, and means interconnected with said manual selectingmeans for effecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selectednumber of courses.

3. In a circular stocking knitting machine having a main controllingdevice advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of eachstocking and determinative of numbers of courses in various portions ofeach stocking; means including a single manually settable member formanually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to beformed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, meanscontrolled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance ofthe controlling device for the numbers of courses so selected, and meansinterconnected with said manual selecting means for effecting markingsin a stocking corresponding to the selected number of courses.

4. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a cam drumcontrolling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine andadvancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controllingchain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of eachstocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum anddeterminative of numbers of courses in various portions of eachstocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum undercontrol of said chain; means for manually selecting one of severaldifferent numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality ofportions of the stocking, and means controlled by the last mentionedmeans for interrupting the advance of said chain for the numbers ofcourses so selected.

5. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a cam drumcontrolling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine andadvancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controllingchain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of eachstocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum anddeterminative of numbers of courses in various portions of eachstocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum undercontrol of said chain; means including a single manually settable memberfor manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to beformed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, and meanscontrolled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance ofsaid chain for the numbers of courses so selected.

6. In a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder, a cam drumcontrolling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine andadvancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controllingchain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of eachstocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum anddeterminative of numbers of courses in various portions of eachstocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum undercontrol of said chain; means for manually selecting one of severaldifferent numbers of courses to be formed in each of a plurality ofportions of the stocking, means controlled by the last mentioned meansfor interrupting the advance of said chain for the numbers of courses soselected, and 20 means interconnected with said manual selecting meansfor effecting markings in a stocking corresponding to the selectednumbers of courses.

7. In a circular knitting machine having :a needle cylinder, a cam drumcontrolling the sequence of events in the operation of the machine andadvancing at intervals during formation of a stocking, a controllingchain advancing through a complete cycle during the formation of eachstocking and having links controlling advance of said cam drum anddeterminative of numbers of courses in various portions of eachstocking, and means advancing said chain and advancing said drum undercontrol of said chain; means including a single manually settable memberfor manually selecting one of several different numbers of courses to beformed in each of a plurality of portions of the stocking, meanscontrolled by the last mentioned means for interrupting the advance ofsaid chain for the numbers of courses so selected, and meansinterconnected with said manual selecting means for efiecting markingsin a stocking corresponding to the selected numbers of courses.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS962,291 Ames June 21, 1910 2,436,468 Bristow Feb. 24, 1948 2,439,990Ryan Apr. 20, 1948 2,516,514 H'aehnel July 25, 1950

